- Bangladesh reach 93-2 at lunch in 31 overs.
- Mominul and Shanto rebuilt the innings with a half-century partnership.
- Pakistan conceded a narrow deficit of 27 runs in the first innings.
MIRPUR: Bangladesh strengthened their position on the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan despite losing two early wickets, extending their lead to 120 runs by lunch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Bangladesh, who resumed the day at 7-0 from 1.5 overs, reached 93-2 at lunch in 31 overs, extending their lead to 120 despite losing both openers early in the session.
Mominul Haque is batting comfortably on 37 off 82 deliveries, including three boundaries, while Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 34 off 57 balls with four fours, as the pair have also formed a valuable 50-run partnership.
Mohammad Abbas made the breakthrough, catching Mahmudul Hasan Joy lbw on five off 26 deliveries. Hasan Ali then joined the attack, removing Shadman Islam, who scored 10 off 22 balls, including two boundaries.
After early setbacks, Mominul Haque and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto stabilized the innings with a composed partnership, guiding Bangladesh past the 50-run mark and ensuring they remained in control of the session.
After being asked to bat first, the home team were bowled out for 413 in 117.1 overs in the first innings, courtesy the exceptional batting performances of Mominul Haque, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim.
Recovering from 31-2, Haque and Shanto batted sensibly and put together a 170-run partnership, with both batsmen scoring half-centuries, while the captain scored a century.
Haque was dismissed for 91 off 200 deliveries, with 10 fours, by Noman Ali, while Najmul Hossain top-scored with 101 off 130 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes before falling to Mohammad Abbas.
Mushfiqur made a vital contribution of 71 off 179 deliveries, combined with eight fours, before being dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Litton Das and Taskin Ahmed made useful lower-order contributions.
Das scored 33 off 67 deliveries, including five fours, while Taskin quickly scored 28 off 19 balls, smashing three fours and a six.
Mohammad Abbas led the visitors’ bowling attack with figures of 5/92 in 34 overs. Shaheen Afridi claimed three wickets, while Hasan Ali and Noman Ali picked up one wicket each.
In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 386 in 100.3 overs, giving Bangladesh a slim 27-run lead despite a century and three half-centuries between debutants Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal, as well as senior batsman Salman Ali Agha and keeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan.
Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Awais started positively, finding boundaries early and building a composed base to ease the pressure after Bangladesh’s imposing first innings total.
The pair continued to put pressure on the Bangladesh bowlers, with runs flowing freely during the final session of play. Azan Awais raised his bat for his first Test fifty and the duo also put together an opening 100-run partnership.
However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz made the breakthrough by dismissing Imam-ul-Haq, who fell for 45 off 72 deliveries, hitting six fours, leaving Pakistan at 106-1 in 22 overs.
Azan Awais top-scored with 103 off 105 deliveries, including 14 fours, before being dismissed by Taskin Ahmed, while Abdullah Fazal contributed 60 off 120 balls, including seven fours and a six, before falling to Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Salman Ali Agha and Rizwan also batted sensibly, with Agha hitting 58 off 94 deliveries, including six fours and a six, while the keeper-batsman hit 59 off 79 balls, hitting eight fours.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz starred for the hosts with figures of 5/102 in 38 overs. Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam claimed two wickets each, while Nahid Rana contributed one wicket.
